Steel mesh and the like bending apparatus



Nov. 2, 1965 H. KLOUTEN 3,214,956

STEEL MESH AND THE LIKE BENDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /NVENTO.(

Armaw/sy H. KLOUTEN 3,214,956

STEEL MESH AND THE LIKE BENDING APPARATUS Nov. 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1962.

Mmswm? #5 mm /c// n; oar/2N BY Arro/m/Ey United States Patent 3,214,956 STEEL MESH AND THE LIKE BENDING APPARATUS Heinrich Klouten, Hoeningen, Kreis Grevenbroich, Germany, assignor to Bau-Stahlgewebe G.m.b.H., Dusseldorf-Oberhassel, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Nov. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 235,638 Claims priority, application Germany, Nov. 6, 1961, B 64,669 1 Claim. (Cl. 72404) The present invention relates to apparatus for the bending of steel mesh or the like into three-dimensional structures especially, though not limitatively, for use in connection with reinforced concrete constructions involving the building of relatively large constructional units, such as columns, foundations, etc.

The invention is more particularly concerned with mesh bending devices of the special type as shown and described in the copending patent application Serial No. 103,920, filed April 18, 1961, by Heinz Webers et al., entitled Device for Bending Steel Mesh for Reinforced Concrete and the Like, now Patent No. 3,120,257 and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. Said prior application, which is hereby embodied in the instant application by reference, discloses a device for the bending of steel mesh or the like consisting of sets of intersecting spaced and parallel rods, said device comprising essentially of a stationary supporting beam or plate for positioning thereon a mesh to be bent, a bending beam or plate being normally flush with said supporting beam and arranged with an edge thereof adjoining an edge of said supporting beam, a plurality of aligned preferably cylindrical-shaped bending dies spaced at distances equal to the distance between the rods of the mesh to be bent and projecting from the edge of one of said beams parallel to the adjoining edges of the beams. The dies arranged with their aligning axis being parallel to the meeting edges of said beams are provided with lateral bayonet-like recesses adapted to receive and position the rods of the mesh to be bent. There are further provided means mounted upon said supporting beam, including an operating lever or the like, to rotatively support the bending beam about an axis coincident with the aligning axis of the dies, in such a manner as to clamp the rods to be bent against and to bend the same around said dies by rotation of said bending beam or plate.

In the practical realization of a device of this type, the angular or L-shaped bending dies may be mounted upon either the bending beam, as shown by the aforementioned copending application, or alternatively upon the supporting beam, there being further advantageously provided a special supporting plate or the like being integral with or supporting the dies and being, in turn, mounted upon one of said beams or plates.

In use, the steel or the like mesh is placed from above upon the supporting beam with the rods of the mesh to be bent passing on both sides of the angular bending dies or claws, whereupon the mesh is displaced laterally to insert the rods in the recesses of said dies bayonetfashion, in such a manner as to cause the rods to engage the vertical legs or connecting members of the cylindrical die portions. The bending beam is then rotated to a desired angle about its axis being coincident with the axis of the horizontal bending or counterholding die elements, whereby to bend the rods within said recesses and closely around the cylindrical die portions, substantially without displacement or slippage of the mesh during a bending operation, in the manner described in greater detail in the above copending application.

Mesh bending devices of the afore-described type which can be moved or transported readily and used at the site of the work are practically limited in size and accordingly could be used only in the past for the bending of mesh structures of relatively small dimension. In order to bend mesh of greater dimension or width efliciently and satisfactorily, it was necessary to utilize stationary bending machines, that is, without the benefits and advantages of the relatively small and easily transportable devices of the type shown and described by the afore-mentioned copending application.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is the provision, in connection with mesh bending apparatus of the type referred to and described in said copending application, of means by which the foregoing and related diificulties and drawbacks are substantially eliminated and by which mesh structures of practically any size or dimension may be bent expeditiously and efiiciently, in substantially the same manner as the smaller sizes and by the use of substantially the same devices as employed for the bending of smaller units.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of simple and releasable coupling or connecting means, whereby a plurality of basic and easily transportable mesh bending units or devices of the type referred to may be readily combined into a composite operative bending assembly of practically any desired size for the bending of mesh structures of corresponding dimension as easily and effectively as in bending a mesh by a single bending device, to suit any practical operating conditions and requirements.

The invention, both as to its ancillary objects and novel aspects, will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a multiple mesh bending machine or assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and showing a modification thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fractional view, shown on an enlarged scale, of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4.

Like reference numerals denote like parts in the different views of the drawings.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention involves generally the provision of mesh bending apparatus comprising a plurality or an array of spaced juxtaposed bending devices or units of the type preferred to and described in the copending application mentioned hereinabove, said bending units being connected by suitable releasable coupling or connecting means in such a manner that all the bending tools or dies of said units are aligned, preferable in a horizontal plane, and structurally combined into a composite operative unit, or assembly, with suitable operating and control means being provided to operate all said units in unison or synchronism, for the bending of mesh structures of practically unlimited size or dimension determined by the number of individual bending units used, substantially without impairing the transportability and other desirable characteristics of the individual units or bending devices. In other words, the latter may be of known construction for use in bending the smaller mesh sizes, whereby to greatly increase the flexibility and usefulness of the known devices.

The supporting and bending beams of an individual unit are supported by a pair of uprights or supports carrying said coupling means and, according to a further feature of the invention, the spacing of the supports or uprights may be less than the efiective operative width of the units, to enable a proper control of the spacing distance between the units or adaptation of said distance to the spacing distance between the dies of each said units substantially independently of the coupling means connecting said units, whereby afford bending of mesh of a desired size and rod, diameter, as well as spacing distance between said rods.

The operating means for the rotation of the bending beams may be mounted either laterally of the units, such as where only two units are required for the complete assembly or apparatus, FIG. 1, or below the units where a greater number of units is required to produce an assembly of greater size for the bending of a mesh of a corresponding width or dimension, FIG. 2. The units may be advantageously operated by their own power drive, such as an electric motor, hydraulic motor or the like fed by a common supply and operated by suitable uni-control means, such as stop valve, electric switch, etc., to eflFect a synchronous operation or rotation of all the bending beams of the assembly, in a manner understood by and readily suggesting itself to those skilled in the art.

As an example, by the combination of two bending units or-devices of the type shown by the copending application above mentioned each of which has an effective width of say 2.5 m., mesh structures having a maximum width of twice this value, that is, m., may be bent simply and etrlciently in the same manner as with a single device and without foregoing any of the advantages of the single units, in particular their easy transportability and simplicity of construction as well as operation. The same considerations apply to a greater number of units or bending devices forming a composite bending assembly according to the invention for the bending of mesh structures of correspondingly increased size.

According to a preferred application of the invention, steel mesh structures of relatively large dimension may be bent in a single operation to any desired three-dimensional shape and size as required in connection with reinforced concrete constructions. In the past, it has been necessary for this purpose, that is, for the production of relatively large reinforcing structures, to connect individual rods by means of separate connecting means, such as metal loops or the like connectors, in order to produce the three-dimensional reinforcing structures required in reinforced concrete work. Such a procedure is both cumbersome and time consuming and avoided principally by the present invention using ordinary bending devices and a method substantially devoid of separate connecting means or operations and suitable for any size of mesh or structure to be produced.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show schematically and in elevation mesh bending assemblies constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. According to the FIG. 1 modification, wherein the control means for eitecting a bending operation are arranged laterally of the bending devices or units 1 each comprise in a known manner a supporting beam or plate 2, FIG. 3, a pair of uprights or supports 3 carrying said beam, a bending beam 4, and an array of aligned juxtaposed L-shaped bending dies or tools 5 being afiixed to or projecting from either the bending beam 4, as shown by the above-mentioned copending application, or alternatively from the supporting beam 2. The dies being composed of cylindrical or die portions proper and connecting portions transverse to said cylindrical portions, project beyond the surface of said beams and the bending beam 4 is rotatively supported by the supporting beam 2 about the common aligning axis XX of the dies, in such a manner as to allow a mesh of corresponding size and rod spacing distance to be inserted in the recesses of the dies bayonet-fashion and to be bent against and around said cylindrical die portions to any desired bending angle,

in the manner described in greater detail in said copending application. In the multiple bending structure or assembly according to the present invention, the devices are connected through releasable coupling means 13 in aligned and mutually adjustable position, whereby to cause the dies of all the units of the assembly to coincide with the common rotating axis of all the bending beams of the units and to be equally spaced in the manner described in the following.

In order to facilitate the alignment of the units 1, the latter may be mounted upon guide rails 6 enabling an easy relative horizontal adjustment and spacing of the units. The adjustment may be carried out manually by the aid of suitable releasable and adjustable coupling or connecting means 13, such as in the form of turn buckles as shown by the drawings. The latter may consist simply of a sleeve 7, FIG. 4, having both of its ends internally threaded by left and right-hand screw threads engaging threaded bolts 8 which project laterally from the adjacent uprights or supports 3 of the units 1. As a consequence, rotation of the sleeve 7 will result in relative displacement of the bolts 7 and 8 and, in turn, of the units in either direction for the adjustment of the latter in a manner readily understood. Ordinarily and for normal uses, the distance between the bending dies 5 and 5" at the extreme adjoining ends of two adjacent units 1 should be equal to the distance between the dies 5 of a single unit, that is, equal to the spacing distance between the adjacent rods 14, FIG. 3, of the mesh to be bent. Alternatively, the distance between the outer dies 5' and 5" may be slightly varied to compensate for the tolerance variations of the rod spacing distances due to inaccuracies in mesh fabrication. In order to afford a proper adjustment of the distance between the adjacent dies 5 and 5" of different bending units 1 by means of the coupling and adjusting devices 13, the latter are supported by the uprights 3 and the spacing distance between the uprights of each unit is less than the effective width of said units, as shown in the drawings. In other words, the adjustment of the spacing distance between the units 1 is substantially independent of the size of or mounting space required by the coupling means 13.

The bending beams of the individual units 1 may be rotated in any suitable manner, as shown for instance in the copending application mentioned preferably by the aid of individual power drive means known per se, such as electric motors, hydraulic motors or the like being mounted in housings 10, FIG. 1, and controlled in synchronism or unison for rotation of all the bending beams by means of a single control member such as a switch 11, as shown in FIG. 5, in a manner readily understood. In FIG. 1, the common control of the units is schematically indicated by the dot-dash line 11'.

In the arrangement according to FIG. 2, the control devices of the units 1 are contained in housings 12 mounted below the units, whereby to enable more than two units to be combined and operated as a composite bending device or assembly by means of turnbuckles or the like and suitable operating devices, in the manner described hereinbefore. In such a case, all the bending dies 5 are aligned and the outer dies of two adjacent units spaced or adjusted, to allow of the bending of mesh structures of practically unlimited size or dimensions by means of relatively small and easily transportable units capable of instant assembly into a composite bending apparatus of required size.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a bending tool assembly according to FIGS. 1 and 2. In use, a mesh 14 is placed upon the aligned supporting beams 2 with the rods 15 to be bent being inserted between the adjacent dies 5 of the units. The mesh is then displaced laterally bayonet-fashion until the rods 14 are positioned within the L-shaped die elements such as to be clamped and bent thereby upon rotation of the bending beams 4 in the manner described.

A special advantage of the invention is the fact that a desired number of basic bending units may be combined into an operative structure or assembly of the required size or dimension and operated by uni-control means for the bending of mesh structures of practically any size and construction.

A further advantage is the fact that the basic bending units may be releasably coupled and adjusted to a desired mutual spacing by means of relatively simple coupling and adjusting means, to bend mesh of any size and to suit any practical conditions and requirements. Inasmuch as the distance between the dies 5 5" at the adjoining ends of two bending units should normally be equal to the distance between the dies 5 of the individual units, adjustment can be made instantly by the operation of the turnbuckles or equivalent adjusting devices. Alternatively, slight variations of the distance between the rods 14 of the mesh 15, resulting from inaccuracies in manufacture, may be compensated by suitable adjustment of the distance between two or more units 1 of the assembly in the manner pointed out herein.

There is thus provided by the invention simple and efficient means for the bending of pre-fabricated steel mesh or the like into a three-dimensional structure comprising a plurality or an array of standard bending devices or units of the general type according to the copending application mentioned hereinabove, said devices being of a practical and economical size and readily transportable and each said units being capable of use separately for the bending of mesh of limited size, and said units being further adapted to be assembled into larger assemblies or bending apparatus for the bending of mesh structures of greater dimension, to suit any practical conditions and requirements.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described in reference to a specific illustrative device or system. It will be evident, however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent parts or elements for those shown herein for illustration, may be made in accordance with the broader scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

I claim:

Apparatus for the bending of steel mesh and the like structures including at least one set of spaced parallel rods comprising in combination:

(1) a plurality of individual bending units each being comprised of (a) a pair of spaced uprights, (b) a horizontal supporting beam carried by said uprights,

(c) a bending beam adjacent to and flush in the normal position with said supporting beam, to provide a supporting surface therewith for positioning thereon a mesh to be bent,

(d) an array of aligned bending dies spaced by a distance conforming to the spacing distance between the rods to be bent and projecting transversely from one of said beams beyond said surface,

(e) said dies having cylindrical and transverse portions forming bayonet-like structures adapted to receive and hold the rods of a mesh to be bent, and

(f) operating means rotatively supporting said bending beam by said supporting beam about an axis coincident with the common aligning axis of the cylindrical die portions, whereby to clamp and bend said rods against and around said cylindrical die portions by rotation of said bending beam,

(2) supporting means relatively displaceably supporting the uprights of said units in end-to-end and mutually aligned position, to provide a composite bending assembly by said units of increased operating width,

(3) adjustable coupling means connecting the uprights of adjacent units of said assembly comprised of a pair of threaded bolts connected each to one of the uprights of two adjacent units and an internally threaded sleeve having each of its ends engaging one of said bolts, and

(4) common uni-control operating means for the bending beams of all said units,

(5) the spacing of the uprights of each of said units being less than the effective operating width of said beams, whereby to enable a relative adjustment of said units by said coupling means to a spacing distance between the dies of adjacent units conforming to the spacing distance between the dies within said units, substantially independently of said coupling means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 235,781 12/80 Kilmer 15315 3,120,257 2/64 Webers et a1 15320 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Examiner. 

